Radial Pulse Therapy also known as Radial Shockwave Therapy has and is gaining popularity for the adjunct treatment of superficial orthopedic conditions especially myofascial conditions and tendinopathy. This is do to: some clients need overly dense fascia, scar tissue, soft tissue and joint adhesions broken up; doctors like using new technology; and some clients need a device with specific magnitude of forces (Joules) and a controlled speed (Hertz) applied to the muscle/tendon/bone unit in order to achieve the goals of restimulating the healing process.

As practitioners, it is important to correctly identify the patient’s biggest dysfunction. I often ask myself, “What’s the biggest issue?” Is it pain related to repetitive trauma, microtrauma, macrotrauma, obesity, poor nutrition, lack of motor control, poor strength, poor mobility, etc. Once the treatment plan is initiated, we must have positive short term responses from our treatment decision to obtain long term adaptation. In this regard, I have the experience of working with Radial Pulse Therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy, achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinopathy, tennis elbow, iliolumbar and thoracolumbar fascial dysfunctions. I like being able to offer treatment options especially after patients have tried medications and glucocorticoid injection therapy for tendinopathy, trigger points and fascial adhesions.

Self-Controlled Energy Neuro-Adaptive Regulator (SCENAR): It was first invented in Russia in the mid 80s under space and military research programs. SCENAR device generates electrical impulses that are physiologically similar to our own bodies neurological impulses. SCENAR impulses get applied to your skin, then the body uses its own reflexes, in a biofeedback process at real time and biological speed. By continuously using biofeedback, the SCENAR modifies each successive input signal to either amplify or dampen the form of the pathological signals that exist in the body.

Pain is the most common complaint to be dealt with the SCENAR therapy by blocking transmission of the pain impulses in the nerve endings.

I use SCENAR to send a signal along peripheral nerve fibers, allowing suppression of pain that occurs in the brain cortex. By rubbing the SCENAR impulses over an inflammed or restricted fascial area, there is reduction of the swelling/edema around the nerve fibers leading to reduction of pressure effects on the nerves.

L-Theanine. It’s an ingredient in green tea. It creates alertness and relaxation, focus and concentration; good for “stressed” people; helps kids with ADD: helps people with FMS; it improves sleep quality. For your daughter try 100-200 mg before she starts to study.

The Paleo diet doesn’t restrict carbohydrates, it promotes unlimited veggies and fruits. For some patients I do restrict the number of fruits. I recommend eggs, poultry, and meats. I allow sweet potato and yams. The monounsaturated fats are avocado, hazelnuts/fliberts, macadamia nuts, and olives. These are all great choices. A lot of my patients are switching to coconut oil/butter/flakes and milk for cooking and snacks.

Research concludes that low carbohydrate diets in which fruits and vegetables are not restricted – like the Paleo Diet – result in lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality rates. I’m after making a difference in cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic illnesses which typically afflict my patient population.

Stick with a diet based upon seasonal unlimited veggies, lean meats and seafood.

This was a great 20 minute workout I did this morning that I want to share with you. It combines weight training with high intensity cardio so it’s fast, efficient and effective. And there’s only 5 exercises.

Here’s the workout:

Lunges holding a kettlebell overhead: Stand holding a kettlebell overhead with your right arm straight. Maintain that position as you take a large step forward until your front knee is bent 90 degrees and your back knee is an inch or two off the floor. Return to the starting position, and repeat with the other leg. Perform 10 reps with each arm holding the kettlebell overhead.

Push Up & Row Combo (Renegade row): Assume a pushup position with your arms straight and your hands resting on dumbbells or kettlebells. Keep your feet about hip-width apart. Lower your body to just above the floor, pause, and then push yourself back up. Now bring one dumbbell toward your rib cage and return it to the floor. Do another pushup, and repeat with your other arm. That’s 1 rep. Perform 20 reps.

Single leg balance reach (single leg deadlift): Stand on your left leg. Now bend at the waist (while keeping your back flat and hips pushed back), and extend your right leg behind you. Reach down, moving your right hand across your body and toward your left foot. Then raise your upper body to the starting position, but without touching your right foot to the floor. That’s 1 rep. Complete 10 reps on one leg, and then switch sides and repeat.

Squats: Start with feet shoulder width apart, toes pointing out only slightly. Take a deep breath and squat down. Pretend like you are taking the hips backwards to sit in a chair. Feel the bodyweight pressing down through both heels. Lower yourself to a knee bend where the thighs are parallel to the floor (at least 90°). At the bottom think “butt” and activate the gluteal muscles to help return to the start position while breathing out – this helps support the spine. Start with bodyweight only performing 8 repetitions, progress to using a dowel or light bar across the chest. This can be progressed by holding dumbbells or a kettlebell in one hand or both hands. Aim to increase the weight you can lift for 8 reps.

I did a set of kettlebell swings between each of the above. Do as many rounds of this circuit as you can in 20 minutes.

The key is to make this intense, so you’ll get that afterburn effect – meaning you’ll be burning calories for many hours after the workout is completed.

Seven weeks of supplementation with the branded pine bark extract Pycnogenol® reduced the level of non-prescription antihistamine medication use to only 12.5%. Fifty percent of participants in the placebo group required the antihistamines.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most commonly grass pollen. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, about 60 million people in the U.S. are affected by allergic rhinitis.

The immune system mistakes the spores for harmful invaders and white blood cells—T-helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes—produce protein-like cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-6, which in turn promote the synthesis of immune system immunoglobulins (Ig), which bind the pollen and fight it off.

Participants took 100 mg per day of the pine bark extract supplement throughout the allergy season.

Results showed that IgE levels increased by 32% in the placebo group, compared with only 19% in the pine bark extract group.

It takes about five weeks for Pycnogenol to impact hay fever symptoms. Relief from allergies was better the longer the subjects were on Pycnogenol prior to the allergen exposure. The best results were found with subjects who took Pycnogenol seven to eight weeks ahead of the allergy season.

I have seen good results for my patients using Pycnogenol, Phyto Complete (Metagenics) and Perimine (Metagenics) for allergy symptoms.